MLB Player News

Marchan (back) was activated from the injured list and optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday.

Marchan will effectively continue his rehab assignment with Lehigh Valley with no pressing need for a third catcher at the big-league level. The 25-year-old backstop has not appeared in the majors since 2021, but he could get a look later in the season if there is an injury behind the plate in Philadelphia.

Winn will start at shortstop and bat leadoff Monday against the Reds, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

With lefty Nick Lodolo due up for Cincinnati, Cardinals skipper Oliver Marmol will give the rookie another opportunity to set the table. Winn has made two other starts in the leadoff spot this season but has primarily hit in the bottom third of the order. That could change given Winn's hot hitting; he's riding a 15-game hitting streak during which he's slashing .375/.404/.604.

Candelario (neck) is in the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals.

He was scratched from Saturday's lineup due to neck stiffness and held out Sunday as well, but evidently Candelario is feeling better. The 30-year-old will return to third base and bat third against right-hander Lance Lynn. While the rest of the Reds' offense has sunk in May, Candelario has rebounded with an .835 OPS, five doubles and a couple homers in his last 17 games.

Thomas (knee) was activated from the 10-day injured list Monday.

Victor Robles was designated for assignment in a corresponding move. Thomas has been out since late April with a Grade 2 MCL sprain, but he is now ready to roll following a four-game rehab stint with Double-A Harrisburg. Thomas mostly struggled over the first few weeks before landing on the IL, slashing .184/.250/.253 with two homers and 11 steals, but he should immediately slot back in as the starting right fielder for Washington.

Robles was designated for assignment by the Nationals on Monday.

Once considered one of the top prospects in baseball, Robles put up 17 homers and 28 steals in 2019 at the age of 22, but he was never able to come close to replicating that level of production in the years that followed. The Nationals have essentially decided to part ways with him to accommodate the return of Lane Thomas (knee) from the injured list, but another team could take a chance on Robles on waivers. Robles, now 27, has gone just 3-for-25 with four steals in limited action this season.

Spiers was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Monday.

Spiers threw 3.1 innings against the Dodgers in Sunday's series finale, allowing one run on three hits while striking out three. He has spent most of the season so far riding the shuttle between Triple-A and the majors, and he will likely return again when the Reds need a fresh arm. For now, Spiers will head down to make room on the roster for Nick Lodolo (groin).

D'Arnaud is absent from the lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals.

Sean Murphy is making his long-awaited return from the injured list Monday, so d'Arnaud will begin this one on the bench. It's likely that Murphy won't shoulder too big of a workload initially, so expect d'Arnaud to continue seeing plenty of reps. The 35-year-old should retain value in two-catcher leagues even with his playing time expected to dip.

Lodolo (groin) was activated from the 15-day injured list Monday ahead of his scheduled start against the Cardinals.

An extended bullpen session last Wednesday put Lodolo in the clear to return after the minimum, and without a rehab assignment. The left-hander has pitched brilliantly in between IL stints this season, posting a 3.34 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 43:9 K:BB over 35 innings. While he may not be available for 90-plus pitches right away in his return, there has been nothing to suggest Lodolo will face any major restrictions against St. Louis.

Kelenic went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored in Sunday's win over the Pirates.

The 24-year-old outfielder started the day on the bench with southpaw Martin Perez pitching for Pittsburgh, but he was pressed into duty when Ronald Acuna (knee) went down and scored multiple runs in a game for the first time in 2024. Kelenic has only five plate appearances against lefties so far this year, and his third-inning single off Perez was his first hit against one, but with Acuna now lost for the season, Atlanta may not be able to limit Kelenic to a strict platoon role.

Riley (side) will start at third base and bat second in Monday's game against the Nationals.

Riley wound up missing just over two weeks (and 13 games) of action with a nagging left intercostal strain but is finally ready to rejoin Atlanta's lineup. He will be asked to carry even more of a load following Ronald Acuna's season-ending ACL tear.